Books

One of the central research themes in ecology is evaluating the extent to which biological richness is necessary to sustain the Earth's system and the functioning of individual ecosystems. In this volume, for the first time, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem processes in forests is thoroughly explored. The text examines the multiple effects of tree diversity on productivity and growth, biogeochemical cycles, animals, pests, and ...

This volume provides an overview of recent advances in forest ecology on a variety of topics, including species diversity and the factors that control species diversity, environmental factors controlling distribution of forests, impacts of disturbances on forests (fires, drought, hurricane), reproduction ecology of both trees and understory species, and spatial organization of forests. Previously published in Plant Ecology, Volume 201, No.1, ...

Van Laar and Akça’s popular text book, Forest Mensuration, was first published in 1997. Like that first edition, this modern update is based on extensive research, teaching and practical experience in both Europe, and the tropics and subtropics. However, it has also been extensively revised, and now includes chapters on remote sensing and the application of aerial photographs and satellite imagery.As with its predecessor, this book assumes no ad

Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants presents the current status of the elucidation and improvement of plant genomes of economic interest. The focus is on genetic and physical mapping, positioning, cloning, monitoring of desirable genes by molecular breeding and the most recent advances in genomics. The series comprises seven volumes: Cereals and Millets; Oilseeds; Pulses, Sugar and Tuber Crops; Fruits and Nuts; Vegetables; Technical ...

Cândida Ferreira thoroughly describes the basic ideas of gene expression programming (GEP) and numerous modifications to this powerful new algorithm. This monograph provides all the implementation details of GEP so that anyone with elementary programming skills will be able to implement it themselves. The book also includes a self-contained introduction to this new exciting field of computational intelligence, including several new algorithms ...

Trees are truly amazing! Woody species underpin vital terrestrial ecosystems, present a complex array of evolutionary novelties, and provide essential benefits and commodities. Trees play a key role in the major biogeochemical cycles, including water, oxygen, and nitrogen. Notably, forests are second only to oceans in the biological sequestration of carbon, and forests are recognized for their vital role in regulating the concentration of the ...

The Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants represents the first comprehensive taxonomic treatment of succulents in thirty years. It covers over 9000 taxa of all succulents except Cactaceae.The Crassulaceae (stonecrop family) volume presents the first complete treatment of the family for many decades. The family is a very diverse group, and plants range from tiny insignificant annual herbs to perennial shrubs and trees. Many of the species have ...

Demand for timber and fibre continues to grow and is being met by increased reliance on plantation forestry. Many of the plantations that are being grown around the globe are non-native species that have characteristics of rapid growth and good commercial qualities. In some cases, the high rates of production are a result of the absence of native herbivore and diseases. This limited pest status is threatened as pest species move around the ...

Demand for timber and fibre continues to grow and is being met by increased reliance on plantation forestry. Many of the plantations that are being grown around the globe are non-native species that have characteristics of rapid growth and good commercial qualities. In some cases, the high rates of production are a result of the absence of native herbivore and diseases. This limited pest status is threatened as pest species move around the ...

Building on more than a decade of innovative research into multi-source forest inventory (MS-NFI) this book presents full details of the development, outputs and applications of the improved k-NN method. The method, which was pioneered in Finland in 1990, is rapidly becoming a world standard in forest inventory, having been adopted as standard in Finland and Sweden, and recently introduced in Austria and across the US.The book describes in detai

Traditionally the purpose of National Forest Inventories (NFIs) has been to provide continuously updated information regarding the state of a given nation’s forest resources, including their timber volumes, species composition and sustainable development. But with increased international reporting requirements – to the FAO, the ITTO, the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Ministerial Conference Protecting Forest in Europe and other ...

Phylogeography of Southern European Refugia provides the first synthesis of the remarkable diversity, evolutionary complexity, and conservation importance of the flora and fauna in the Mediterranean region, with emphasis on the three major peninsular refugia. The book frames a number of case studies within several introductory and closing chapters that review the development and importance of phylogeographic approaches in evolutionary biology. ...

Earlier, we edited a well received series on "Somatic embryogenesis in woody trees", volumes 1 to 6. These volumes provided readers detailed extensive reviews on somatic embryogenesis of important angiosperm and gymnosperm tree species; an excellent source of information for newcomers or those already engaged in research. However, these book volumes did not cover stepwise "detailed protocols" for inducing somatic embryogenesis. This book ...

Forests must be measured, if they are to be managed and conserved properly. This book describes the principles of modern forest measurement, whether using simple, hand-held equipment or sophisticated satellite imagery. Written in a straightforward style, it will be understood by everyone who works with forests, from the professional forester to the layperson. It describes how and why forests are measured and the basis of the science behind the ...

Mangrove ecosystems are typical formations found in coastal deposits of mud and silt throughout the tropics and some distance into the subtropical latitudes. The total wordwide mangrove area, which is estimated at about 170,000 km2 with some sixty species of trees and shrubs exclusive to the habitat, dominates approximately 75% of the world's coastline between latitudes 25°N and 25°S. Such unique intertidal ecosystems support genetically ...

This volume compares the beech forests of eastern Asia, North America and Europe. Beech forests are important in each of these three regions. No other book covers beech on this scale. The author has personally studied beech forests in each region, and his large body of data is the starting point for comparison. For such a world-wide comparison to be justified, factors that have most strongly influenced the beech forests should be known. ...

As forests are cut down, altered and fragmented, the communities of organisms associated with them are also affected. Predictions of global species extinction rates based on forest loss range 1% to 10% each decade. Because arthropods comprise the largest component of animal species richness, it is inevitable that many arthropod species will become extinct. Millions of these species are thought to live in the forest canopy. During the ...

Rory Putman addresses the question of how, in many temporate ecosystems, diverse and species-rich assemblies of ungulates manage to co-exist despite often quite extensive overlap in ecological requirements. Putman explores the potential for competition, competition tolerance and even positive facilitation amongst the members of such guilds of ungulates. As a central worked example, the author employs data resulting from over 20 years of ...

Concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere have increased dramatically over the last century and many of these changes are attributable to anthropogenic activities. The influence of acid rain has been well studied, but there has been no extensive exploration of other pollutants, such as toxic chemicals, heavy metals and radionuclides. Natural ecosystems, especially forests, tend to accumulate many of these pollutants which subsequently ...

The threats posed by anthropogenic pollution of the environment have resulted in animated public debate about forest condition and growth. Therefore, research into forest condition and vitality has been one of the key areas in forest ecology during the past two decades. The basic questions presented have been: What changes are taking place in forests? Why does forest condition vary, and why do trees appear to be suffering? How can ...